Is Glucosamine Safe for Dogs?

Their ears perk up. Their tail wags. Their feet tippy-tap. Their butt might even wiggle! Your pup’s whole body is saying:

Hi!

Where ya been?

Wanna go for a walk?

Your spirits lift. You can’t help but smile. Your day gets just a bit brighter.

But what happens when those feet can’t dance as fast as they used to? Or when that longed-for walk is shortened by pain, discomfort, and a sad limp home?

What happens when osteoarthritis catches up with your once-dancing, prancing happy pup? What do you do the day he starts losing the pep in his step?

Vets often recommend a daily dose of glucosamine for dogs. That may be why you’re here, reading this. And you may be wondering, is glucosamine safe for my dog?

The short answer: yes.

The long answer: absolutely yes.

Today, we’re going to walk you through all the glucosamine info you need (OK, maybe more than you need), including:

• Why your dog might need glucosamine
• What glucosamine is
• Where glucosamine supplements come from
• What it does for your dog
• Where you can get safe, reliable glucosamine products for your dog

Got your leash and collar on? Let’s head out on our journey!

Why Your Dog Might Need Glucosamine

Arthritis — which usually shows up as stiff joints and aching bones — affects both pet owners and pets, including dogs. According to the American Kennel Club, there are several risk factors for osteoarthritis in dogs, including:

• Age — your dog becomes a senior citizen sometime between their 5th and 10th birthday
• Breed — larger breeds like German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are more susceptible to canine osteoarthritis
• Weight — just like people, carrying extra weight is rarely healthy for dogs
• Improper nutrition — poor food or feeding habits can contribute to joint deterioration
• Repetitive stress from activities — AKA dock diving, flyball, frisbee catching, agility, etc.
• Infections — Lyme Disease, spread by ticks, is a major concern

If you recognize your dog in one of the bullets above, it’s important to visit your vet regularly for wellness checkups. Your vet can spot the signs of arthritis before they become an overwhelming issue.

When your vet diagnoses potential arthritis, they might prescribe a joint supplement starring our friend, glucosamine (which is often combined with another joint-supplementing ingredient called chondroitin).

In fact, market research shows that joint supplements are the most commonly prescribed and purchased pet health products in the United States. That means you aren’t alone in wondering about glucosamine for dogs, and the products you find it in.

So… What *Is* Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is a naturally occurring “amino sugar,” AKA a natural compound made by the body. It helps build and protect cartilage, the soft, spongy tissue that sits between the bones in our joints to cushion them. Both humans and dogs naturally produce glucosamine.

There are several forms of glucosamine, including glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride. They’re not interchangeable in supplement form!

While glucosamine sulfate has been shown to be effective against the inflammation, swelling, and pain of arthritis, studies have found no evidence that glucosamine hydrochloride provides similar anti-inflammatory properties. (This is why all Paramount Pet Health glucosamine supplements contain the sulfate form of glucosamine.)

As both humans and dogs grow older, our bodies produce less glucosamine. This can lead to (or aggravate) the development of arthritis: a painful condition where the cushioning cartilage in the joints breaks down.

By supplementing your dog’s diet with glucosamine, you can give his body the building blocks he needs to support and maintain healthy cartilage — and thus healthy joints!

A Note About Chondroitin Sulfate

Glucosamine joint supplements often contain chondroitin sulfate, too. This is another naturally produced substance that helps build and maintain joint cartilage.

For this reason, it’s often combined with glucosamine. The combination of chondroitin and glucosamine for dogs helps deliver a one-two punch to joint discomfort. 

Where Does Supplemental Glucosamine Come From?

See those funky critters in the image above? They’re green-lipped mussels. And they’re an excellent source of both glucosamine and chondroitin.

The green-lipped mussel is a shellfish similar to a clam. Their shells are packed with lots of useful substances for healthy, happy dogs, including:

• Glucosamine
• Chondroitin
• ETA (Eicosatetraenoic Acid, a rare omega-3 fatty acid)
• Zinc
• Magnesium

All of these substances fight joint pain and inflammation, helping keep arthritis pain at bay. (Phew, maybe we should send the green-lipped mussels a thank-you card for all their hard work!)

What Exactly Do Glucosamine and Chondroitin Do For Your Dog?

As we’ve seen, arthritis breaks down the cartilage in your dog’s joints. Ultimately, this forces bones to actually rub together, which creates stiffness, swelling, and pain.

In the graphic below, you can see a dog’s shoulders, elbows, wrists, hocks (knees), and back. Along with the hips, these are all areas where arthritis commonly develops in both humans and dogs. (You and I have the same joints in relatively the same spots on our bodies.)

Glucosamine and chondroitin, with their cartilage-supporting properties, can help prevent and slow the process of arthritic breakdown — so your dog can enjoy walking, running, and jumping again.

Paramount’s Safe, Reliable Glucosamine and Chondroitin Supplements

Here at Paramount, we make four varieties of safe, effective joint health supplements for dogs. Our all-natural Glucosamine for Dogs supplement line includes:

• Liquid Glucosamine for Dogs
• Glucosamine for Small Dogs
• Glucosamine for Large Dogs
• Vegetarian Glucosamine for Dogs

Liquid Glucosamine for Dogs — Easy to Dose, Tasty to Take

Our tasty liquid supplement makes it easy to give Rover his medicine by simply adding it to his food or water. No more pills to crush or “hide” in a piece of lunch meat — and he gets the full dose he needs every time.

Glucosamine for Large and Small Dogs — Dosages Formulated Just Right

Our large and small dog supplements take the guesswork out of dosing your dog. With really big dogs, the large dog variety will also prevent you from running out frequently (since you won’t have to give a larger quantity of a lower-dosage supplement).

These two bottles are also great options for families with both large and small breeds. Buy Fluffy and Rover each their own bottle, and you can be sure that everyone’s getting just the right amount!

Vegetarian Glucosamine for Dogs — For Pups with Shellfish Sensitivities

While we discussed our little green-lipped mussel friends earlier, glucosamine can ALSO be obtained from plant sources. Our vegetarian supplement is made for dogs with food allergies or other digestive troubles.

Now there’s nothing preventing you from supporting your dog with our safe, reliable, effective glucosamine supplements.

Here’s what some of our many happy customers have to say about Paramount Pet Health Glucosamine for Dogs:

“Excellent product, saw an immediate positive response for my lil dog. He was sleeping 20 hours a day, super lethargic. Within 2 days he was causing trouble again! He's 15 years old and acts half his age!”

- David C.

“I've been having trouble getting our dog to take glucosamine in tablet form or chewables. She just won't eat them. I mix some of this (Liquid variety) into her food and she gobbles it down. She had been walking with a slight limp, especially in the morning - but she's showing no sign of it anymore and has great mobility. Thanks!!”

- Jim B.

“This product continues to strengthen the muscles and bones of my 13 year old standard poodle. He is 70 lbs, and I give him 2 teaspoons morning and evening with his meals. This is sooo much easier than trying to grind those huge pills. Skyler loves the beefy flavor. After 1-1/2 months of taking this 2x a day, my dog can jump into the back of my SUV again, for the first time in 2 years!”

- Skyler

“Both our dogs (a golden retriever and a lab/shepherd mix) are 10 and 11 years old and this product has helped them out tremendously. Before using this their pain and discomfort was very apparent and they didn't like to run and play as much as they used to. They are noticeably more comfortable now and act a few years younger than they were before we started using it. We mix it in right with their food and they chow it down. Before we started using it, the golden retriever would actually get lame while on our daily walks, but that has stopped completely. This stuff is the real deal.”

- Dave